Mo Bryan wasn’t kidding about how she felt prior to her team’s final regular-season match on Thursday against rival Parkland at Brookside Country Club.
“Very stressful. I was so nervous about it,” said Emmaus’ third year coach.
After defeating all would-be opponents in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference up to this point in the season, the Hornets had a chance to go unbeaten in the league play and win their second straight outright EPC title.
They also had a chance to gain a certain amount of revenge against the Trojans who spoiled Emmaus’ perfect season in the league a year ago, defeating the Hornets by one shot a year ago 392-393 at Iron Lakes.
And then there was the matter of qualifying for the District XI Team Tournament.
Despite being undefeated in league play, there was no guarantee the Hornets would secure their spot in the four-team field after suffering their first loss out of a league, a 382-387 loss to Southern Lehigh last Friday at Wedgewood Golf Course. Three to four Spartan players were suspended in the match and Bryan was ‘disappointed in the behavior of the Southern Lehigh kids’ on the course.
With all that in mind, the Hornets went out and took care of business as they beat the Trojans by 20 shots 414-434 in winning back-to-back titles.
“They knew what they had to do,” said Bryan of her young squad. “After that whole fiasco at Solehi they needed this. Now we are just going to keep moving on.”
Emmaus finished unbeaten in the EPC with a 15-0 overall record marking the second time since 2015 that they’ve gone unbeaten
As she’s done all season, sophomore Michelle Cox led the way for the Hornets firing a 5-over 76 (40-36) to lead the field. Freshman Aidan LeBlanc shot his best round of the season at Brookside and finished second with a round of 81 (43-38), while senior Mitch Machulsky was one shot back with an 82 (41-41). Sophomore Nathan Seidel finished fourth on the team with a round of 87, while freshman Matt Zerfass was fifth with a 88 (41-47).
Parkland, which dropped to 13-2 on the season, was led by senior JC Grimm who shot a 9-over 80. Teammate and fellow senior John Angelella was four shots back with an 84.
The Hornets will now turn their focus towards next Tuesday’s EPC Tournament at Woodstone Country Club in Danielsville.
“We did not do well up there a year ago,” said Bryan, whose team finished a disappointing fifth a year ago. “It wasn’t a good day, but having played up their earlier this season (a win over Northampton), the kids are familiar with the course and they’re confident so I’m going to go with that.”
Like Emmaus golf on facebook, follow @Emmaussports on twitter for continued updates on the team throughout the season.